In India, like many places around the world, girls are expected to follow societal norms. But for Atita Verghese, skateboarding has opened up a whole new world of possibilities and led to the foundation of her organization Girl Skate India. She recently teamed up with Lizzie Armanto, who serves as an inspiration and role model to a generation of girls including the locals in India. The pair led a girls skate workshop in Bangalore, India that taught the girls more than how to skate - it taught them how to be fearless, take risks, and the empowerment to push passed expectations.

"Lizzie is one of the best female skateboarders right now. She's done amazing things for the female skatecommunity."- Atita Verghese

"We're going to be messing with concrete and we're going to teach agirls clinic"- Lizzie Armanto

"Once these girls see what's possible, they're going to have newaspirations and dreams that she's going to ignite in them"- Atita Verghese

“I’m skating for last two years with Atita and I would love to skate with Lizzie.”- Anam

“When I found out that Lizzie was coming to Bangalore for the workshop I got super excited.”- Tanvi

“I started skating three months ago. It’s my first time skating at the ramp. I usually skate on the road.”- Naphisa

“People look astonished to see me skating. But I don’t have any problem.”- Mini

"It was cool to see all the different levels of the girls. And most of my group, everyone learned a trick." - LIZZIE ARMANTO

"Skateboarding, in general, allowsyou that freedom to just choose whatever, be whatever, do whatever." - Atita Verghese

Featuring

Atita Verghese

In most countries there can be a big gender gap when it comes to skateboarding and life in general, and in India this divide can be much more pronounced. All of these roadblocks were completely shattered for Atita when she found skating at the age of 19, in Bangalore, India. Since that discovery she has made it her mission to introduce more girls to the benefits of skateboarding and has taken on the task of championing the burgeoning girls skate scene in India. Spend a little time with Atita and you’ll get an amazing glimpse into how skateboarding can change lives and be used as a means of empowerment.

Lizzie Armanto

There have always been amazingly talented women skateboarders but there’s no denying that Vans Pro and Tony Hawk protégé, Lizzie Armanto, is one of the most groundbreaking ladies in skateboard history. In 2016 she became the 1st woman to ever grace the cover of Transworld, then in 2017 she dropped Thrasher & Birdhouse parts and was the 3rd woman to make the cover of Thrasher (and the first one since 1994). The truth is, Santa Monica native, Lizzie Armanto, is flat out gnarlier than half the dudes out there.